b'Member News March 2020 7IET updatesSkills and Demand in Industry reportIn November we launched our latest Skillsengineering or technical and Demand in Industry report. Based oncareers (72%). insights gathered from over 700 telephone81% agree that businesses interviews with employers of engineeringhave a responsibility to and technology staff, it represents a range ofsupport the transition from sectors and company sizes from across the UK. education and training into the workplace to get people The report reveals 60% ofof engineers in the UK will bewith the right skills. Despite employers say recruitmenta threat to their business.this, only 23% of all employers of engineering and technicalare going into schools or to staff with the right skills is the73% of employers that havecareers events to help young biggest anticipated barrierexperienced a shortage ofpeople understand and value to achieving their businessskills in the external labourengineering careers.objectives over the next threemarket have had problems with candidates who haveJust over one in 10 businessesproportion of women within years. Only 20% expect theacademic knowledge but not(12%) are taking or havethe engineering and technical supply of engineering andthe required workplace skills.taken action to increase theworkforce remains at 11%.technical skills into industryThis was closely followed bydiversity of their engineering, to improve over the next 3 tothe supply or quality of youngIT and technical workforcesThe full 2019 report is 5 years. As a result, 53% arepeople entering or seeking toin terms of ethnicity, LGBT+available at: theiet.org/skillsconcerned that the shortageenter the industry to pursuestatus and disability. The Digital twins: the promise of more effective asset design, operation and project executionIn October 2019 the IET Built Environment Panel launchedWhat is a digital twin?the white paper Digital twins for the built environment:An introduction to the opportunity, benefits, challengesThe Gemini Principles definebecoming more common and risks. The paper is the first in a series aiming toa digital twin as a realisticplace in construction and provide clarification around the definition and applicationsdigital representation ofthe built environment, says of digital twins for our built environment.assets, processes or systemsBlane Judd FIET, IET Built in the built or naturalEnvironment Panel Chair.environment. The complexity of that representation andAs well as providing degree of connectedness canclarification on the concept however vary depending onof a twin, the paper presents maturity. For example, a digitala clear and industry-agnostic twin can range from a simplespectrum to address the broad 2D or 3D model to a fullyrange of what a twin can be.integrated and highly accurateUsed wisely, digital twinning model of an entire asset,contributes to a successful facility or even country. built asset that can also This essential applicationbe operated, refurbished, of technology has beenrepurposed and finally used successfully in thedemolished sustainably, manufacturing sectorcontributing to the challenges for some time; it is nowof carbon reduction.The full paper can be viewed at: theiet.org/digitaltwins'